About lee-Ana
Currently living in Ōtepoti - Dunedin, I was born and grew up in Murihiku (Southland), Aotearoa NZ (New Zealand), as did my parents and my mothers parents. My mother's whakapapa (family lines) come from Scotland, Ireland and England, and my fathers whakapapa are from China and Cuba.
I grew up having a special affinity with Tumu Toka and the Waikawa area (Curio Bay and the Catlins) in Murihiku. I acknowledge the tāngata whenua (indigenous people) of these areas as well as the sacred landmarks.
Image by Carla Brockman
My first introduction to qi was in the 90s when I completed levels 1 & 2 Reiki. During this time I also discovered Taiji (Tai chi), training with John Young in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara (Wellington). Curiosity about how qi worked led me to enrol at the NZ School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (NZSATCM) in Wellington. Completing the Diploma in Tuina-Qigong (Chinese massage, qi exercises/techniques and Taiji) in 2005, I then graduated in traditional Acupuncture in 2007, becoming a registered member of Acupuncture NZ (AcNZ). I am also registered with the Chinese Medicine Council of NZ (CMC) and have been granted specialist scopes in both Mental Health and Women’s Health (incuding Obstetrics).
After being based in Tāmaki-makau-rau (Auckland) between 2008-2021, I moved to Ōtepoti (Dunedin) in 2021. Ancient teachings that work to maintain and sustain balance internally and externally while respecting the environment in which we live has been a great influence in my work and life. This led me to train further with tangata whenua in Rongoā Māori, training with Titoki education (2015 & 2023) and Maorihealers.com (2016 to present).
Although aspects of Maori healing differ from Chinese medicine, many of the foundational concepts, philosophies and holistic well being align. This training has allowed for greater relevance of my work with the environment and ancestors of Aotearoa.
My post graduate study (MHS – Chinese medicine) specialised in womens health with a thesis on Acupuncture for Antenatal Anxiety and Depression, completed in 2020 and three publications. I teach midwives acuneedling for pre-brith and during labour, I’m an external clinical supervisor and teacher for NZSATCM in Auckland, as well as being on various committtees for the CMC alongside practice.
My strength has been working with mild-moderate mental health, rebalancing women's health in areas of pregnancy, fertility, hormonal balance, menstruation and menopause. Food has always been a mainstay throughout my life, growing up in my fathers Chinese restaurant with Nana cooking and various family members helping out. Medicinal foods are something that is always integrated into my work. I've also worked a lot in paediatrics, chronic/adrenal fatigue, allergies and digestive issues, respiratory and immune problems as well as pain of any type whether physical, emotional and/or spiritual. I love to work with whole families and even go as far as treating animals such as cats and dogs if needed. Animal acupuncture is something I sometimes offer as a professional house sitter.
“I have such deep gratitude to all the ancestors and many teachers”
Acknowledgments
Chang Choy Diy (my great grandfather) was a Chinese herbalist who migrated to Australia from Cuba with his wife Juana and daughter Esther (my grandmother) in the early 1900s.
While in Australia, Choy Diy was asked to travel to NZ to treat the Chinese community. After a time of travelling by boat between Sydney and Auckland every 3-6 months the family decided to move to NZ in the mid 1920s.
Choy Diy practiced in Wellington before heading to Invercargill where the family settled. Although Chinese medicine (CM) has skipped 2 generations in my family, it is a part of daily life for me. I attribute my inherent knowing about CM to my ancestors who have paved this path I am privileged to travel.
My innate knowledge of nature which has made the old ways easily understandable and accessible, shaping the way I work today, was transmitted to me by my grandfather Eric Beange, as well as the wild Southern land of Tumu Toka, the dolphins and wildlife that live there.
I would like to also acknowledge my family who constantly challenge and encourage the pushing of boundaries and convention.
Special acknowledgement must be given to John Young for sparking my interest in Taiji, qi and Chinese medicine. Also my teachers at NZSATCM especially Debra Betts, Tunji (Adejola Olatunji) and Zhanhua (Jane) Huang as well as fellow classmates who became like family.
Pa Ropata (Robert McGowen) and Donna Kerridge brought understanding about the ngahere (native bush) and Maori Rongoā. Atarangi Murupaenga, and Manu Korewha (Maorihealers.com), were hugely influential in my own acknowledgement of what was within, taking the mahi to another level.
I also acknowledge all the women whose knowledge and wisdom have not been documented. To all those who have walked before, and the sacrifices that have been made to keep the knowledge intact, my deepest gratitude.
